The Valencia striker will become Spurs' most expensive player at £26m if he passes a medical on Friday, but in the meantime the White Hart Lane hierarchy has another record bid to consider.

Real have offered upwards of £85m for Bale who, according to Sky sources, told Andre Villas-Boas earlier this week he wants to leave for Madrid.

And Real boss Carlo Ancelotti gave the first official confirmation from the club's tour of the United States on Wednesday that discussions over "a solution" are under way.

Bale was back at Tottenham's training ground on Thursday, and it remains unclear whether he will travel to Monaco on Friday ahead of Saturday's friendly game.

And Soldado, speaking to reporters at the airport as he boarded a flight to England, said: "I think everybody knows about Gareth Bale. He's a great player. It will be hard to keep him but I hope he stays with Tottenham."

The prospect of a world record deal is the talk of football, and double Player of the Year Bale's recently-departed Spurs team-mate Steven Caulker reckons his former team-mate has earned the right to move.

Caulker, now at Cardiff, told Sky Sports News: "It's a tough call, but if he does go fair play to him, he really deserves it. I wish him all the best."

Real's offer is understood to be for cash, and Ancelotti has ruled out the prospect of Luka Modric returning to Spurs in part exchange.

He said: "All the players we have now are happy, we have not talked about any player leaving. Modric is a very important player for us and will play with us next season."

Readers' Comments

H

aha, as a German supporting United I can only agree with your great insight in German football! No idea why, but I HATE Eintracht Braunschweig and please don't ever place a bet on Leverkusen, they mess up my ticket every time!

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